Gore's expression changed again and again, but facing the gazes of the family wizards, he could only lower his head and say, "It is indeed a unicorn rhinoceros bloodline modification potion. I've just been looking recently to improve my physical strength, seeking a potion master from the Land of Six Towers to prepare a bottle of unicorn rhinoceros bloodline modification potion."

"The other party is the famous potion master Aeolus Evans from the Land of Six Towers. For Mr. Augustine to say that the other party's work doesn't have sufficiently accurate bloodline positioning precision, that's truly... bold for someone with great skill."

Because Locke stated with one sentence the question Gore deliberately used to make things difficult for him, Gore was now forced to acknowledge Locke's level in potion studies.

At this time, Wizard Anthony and many wizards from various major families all applauded lightly. Wizard Anthony applauded, saying, "My junior brother's potion level is considered among the best even in the southeastern quadrant."

"Everyone knows that the southeastern quadrant's potion studies level is high. To be called a genius there and receive honorary certification badges is enough to prove my junior brother's level."

"For the future of our Philade family, I specially invited my junior brother to come, but I didn't expect some people would misunderstand."

The southeastern quadrant, because it had the Forbidden Forest, had always had strong potion studies.

At the round table, some family wizards nodded continuously. Locke's performance in quickly identifying the potion in Gore's hands undoubtedly made the Philade family wizards confirm Locke's potion studies level.

Even somewhat overestimating it.

Amid the crowd's praise, Gore could only helplessly sit down in frustration. His embarrassment caused the original main line's third son's branch, as well as the related affiliated families' mid-level prestigious and lower-level prestigious wizard family heads, to also close their mouths.

Wizard Anthony said to Locke softly, "Thank you, junior brother. The third son's branch has always been unconvinced about us. His talent is decent. He's one of the rare young generation vaporization stage wizards in the Philade family, so he's always trying to challenge my authority."

"Your performance just now really helped me greatly. By the way, junior brother, I didn't expect your potion studies to be so advanced. I remember you haven't obtained formal potion master certification badge yet, right?"

Locke nodded slightly.

Wizard Anthony said in a low voice, "After senior brother makes it big here, I definitely won't forget our fellow students. Rest assured, you helped me greatly this time. I won't let you suffer a loss."

Wizard Anthony smiled mysteriously and said in a low voice, "Do you know why I held this banquet?"

At this time, the small episode in the banquet had passed. The wizards at the round table began toasting and exchanging information, or connecting emotionally, or secretly making jokes about Gore just now.

Wizard Anthony said in a low voice, "The first purpose I held this banquet was to welcome you and establish that when our future fellow students come to the Land of Six Towers, to the Philade family's territory, that is this White Elephant Tower, this is the standard of treatment."

"The second purpose was to establish authority."

"The third purpose was for your benefit."

Locke's eyes showed a puzzled expression. "My benefit?"

Anthony grabbed ten pieces of moss wood marrow from the porcelain plate and handed them to Locke. "Mm, what did you see at this banquet? Aren't there many family wizards who saw the power center of the Land of Six Towers? But besides that, I also saw many marginalized people who are frustrated and unrecognized."

Locke looked up and indeed saw many First Circle wizards secretly looking at him at the banquet's periphery. In the golden cups before those First Circle wizards was poured a wizard beverage, not wizard wine.

Wizard Anthony drank some wizard wine and said, "In the Land of Six Towers, there are many frustrated commoner wizards. Even if they luckily relied on their own talent and luck, plus the little bit of leftovers from prestigious families, to become First Circle wizards, they also have no possibility of accessing further resources or obtaining any teaching positions."

"They generally can only remain at the ordinary wizard stage for their entire lives because they lack resources. Those with talent and ambition will find ways to leave, but there are always some commoner wizards with some talent but insufficient ability to leave. They've been suppressed by these prestigious family wizards for too long. They have many interesting projects in their hands. You can completely take a look. Those projects cannot obtain any association funds because their project applications can't even enter the door of the Land of Six Towers' White Wizard Association's fund committee before being intercepted."

"So these people will hover around these banquets, breaking their heads to enter this banquet, trying to find patrons to support their research."

"Junior brother, choose carefully. Pick a few project applications you're interested in. These commoner wizards still have some ability. Their projects are actually quite good. They just lack resources."

Locke asked him in a low voice, "Is this the reason Senior Anthony could achieve so many results in such a short time in the Land of Six Towers?"

Wizard Anthony nodded. "Yes. But this is just one method. I can also look for projects that family wizards started but were unable to continue, selecting from them projects that already have foundations, equipment, and talent, then complete that project. This way I can produce results quickly."

"I call this situation zombie projects. I'm using those excellent projects in commoner wizards' hands that can't be submitted, plus those quality zombie projects that family wizards did halfway, to produce results that belong to me."

"Relying on these two tricks, I was able to quickly gain the recognition of the Philade family's wizards."

Locke's expression was strange. "But senior brother, discovering these tricks shouldn't be difficult for Philade family wizards, right? Didn't they think of it?"

Wizard Anthony said, "Discovering these two tricks isn't difficult. I think you'll discover them quickly too, so I told you directly. This won't be a secret to us, but for Philade family wizards, it's indeed quite difficult."

Seeing Locke show a strange expression, Wizard Anthony smiled and said, "The stupidity of wizards here far exceeds your imagination. After all, the biggest problem with family wizards isn't the instability of inherited bloodline talent and aptitude, and other various drawbacks. For example, lack of competition, no awareness of internal competition since childhood, and... hostility toward excellence."

"You know, my biggest feeling in the past few years here is discovering that these family wizards' internal logic is actually hostile to progress. Why? At first, I couldn't figure it out. Later I understood."

"Because they know that progress is indeed good, but that would be digging at their family's roots. If they truly pursued progress, wouldn't they need to open up resources and improve the selection system? Organizations maintained by blood relationships can never compare in performance to master-disciple systems or teaching-based wizard organizations."

"So being too excellent would eliminate the family system. Therefore, the family wizards of the Land of Six Towers, one by one, willingly sink and degenerate. Yet they also have the desire to develop their families. Thus, this gives us wizards from outside an opportunity." Wizard Anthony said, "In the southeastern quadrant, I felt I was just an ordinary wizard, but here, I can completely crush those local wizards in all aspects."

"However, the Land of Six Towers' wizard tower technology and bloodline modification technology are indeed good. They've researched some very precious bloodline modification technology that can help wizards break through to formal wizard, at the cost of sacrificing future potential. After breaking through, they'll forever remain at the ordinary formal wizard stage."

Locke asked puzzledly, "What direction of bloodline modification technology is this?"

Wizard Anthony hesitated, then said in a low voice, "Junior brother, I can tell you, but you'd better not speak of it. This is considered high-level classified information even in the Land of Six Towers."

"It involves deeply researching the essence of elemental life, actively semi-elementalizing a wizard's flesh. Using this method reduces the difficulty of inscribing permanent defensive fields and strengthens magical power through semi-elementalization, increasing the probability of advancing to formal wizard."

"Many mediocre family wizards here became formal wizards using this method. Although it still requires high aptitude, it indeed reduces the difficulty considerably. The cost is permanently losing the opportunity to advance further."

Wizard Anthony said, "However, this method requires relying on a treasure called [Tidal Pearl]. That kind of magic gem is extremely scarce even in the Land of Six Towers. It's a strategic resource, so the Land of Six Towers' tidal pearls are only used for family wizards. Commoner wizards rarely can use this method to advance."

Anthony clinked his wine glass against Locke's, then stood up and said to Locke, "The second half of the banquet is for individual exchanges. Soon, some commoner wizards will find ways to come to you."

"As long as you complete several successful projects, you'll benefit and I'll also benefit. You'll gain fame, applied fund resources, and credentials, while I'll gain prestige."

"Good junior brother, may we have pleasant cooperation."

In the corner of Locke's vision, he indeed saw several down-and-out First Circle wizards holding golden cups, lingering around him, seemingly hesitating.

Just as Anthony walked away a few steps, a plainly dressed First Circle wizard wearing dirty wizard robes walked over, extremely enthusiastic toward Locke, handing him a project application.

"Potion Master Augustine, I have a very promising project proposal. If you choose it, it will definitely bring you tremendous benefits. In the Land of Six Towers, articles can list multiple authors."

"I can give you both first author and corresponding author positions. Even second and third author don't need to be me. As long as you give me a fourth author position, that's enough."

"Look, you're also a breeder. This is my project plan for systematically cultivating wild purple licorice. This is my budget table, this is my data..."

Locke looked up at this wizard who seemed very eager. Obviously, the other party had investigated him beforehand, possibly mobilizing all his energy.

The other party even knew he was also a breeder.

It was just that after Locke finished reading this project application, he shook his head slightly. That this application couldn't pass regional funding was normal. Mainly because purple licorice, this kind of magical plant, didn't have much cultivation value. It was only related to the food of several not very important herbivorous magical creatures.

Anyway, he wasn't very interested in purple licorice.

Unless someone happened to have a magical creature that needed purple licorice feed with no substitutes, basically no one would be interested in purple licorice.

Locke declined politely, "I'm sorry, wizard. I think your project indeed has great feasibility, but I'm not currently researching feed-type magical plants."

"I also don't have research foundation or needs in this area."

This First Circle wizard looked somewhat regretful. He smiled awkwardly, "I see. Then I've disturbed you. Sorry."

He left dejectedly.

Then several more First Circle wizards, taking advantage of Locke being at the banquet, seized the opportunity and ran directly in front of him with project proposals.

Locke was overwhelmed looking at them. Most of these project proposals were indeed not very high quality, but some, with slight modifications, were projects of decent quality.

Locke initially looked casually, but when he saw the seventh project application, he looked with surprise at a white-haired old man. The other party's eyes clearly had a trace of pleading and agonizing waiting.

Locke looked at this project and asked puzzledly, "The entire project is almost at the end stage, about to produce results? Does it still need to apply for funding?"

This white-haired elderly wizard, as if seeing some kind of hope, showed a longing expression. "Lord Augustine, this project was done bit by bit by me and several of my students over thirty-five years. But I'm about to be dismissed from the Magic Gem University recently."

"And I lack funds. You may be my last hope. If no new funding flows in, this project of mine will be completely unable to continue."

Locke looked at him with some astonishment. He had just read the other party's data and experimental procedures and had already discovered the other party had already produced several prototypes of the product. They just needed to make the product practical.

He had thought the other party was just one step away from completion, but it turned out the other party had relied on time to grind to this step. And this last step, without resources, couldn't proceed at all.

Locke looked at this project application. This was a project application to develop a type of [Shadow Eye Grass]. Several prototypes of this special grass were discovered by this old wizard in underground mines.

It was when he was young working as a miner that he happened to encounter them. The prototypes of these grasses naturally had spell-like abilities to monitor their surroundings.

And this old wizard was trying to use these grasses to develop a First Circle reconnaissance-type magical plant called [Shadow Eye Grass].